8. Christmas In Other European Countries
and it's also traditional to visit the sauna and for families to listen to a
broadcast of the national 'Peace of Christmas' on the radio. Christmas Dinner
generally consists of a main dish of boiled codfish that is snowy and fluffy in
appearance, served with cream sauce and boiled potatoes. Christmas dinner is
rounded out with roast suckling pig or roasted fresh ham and vegetables. Among
peasants, there is a tradition to tie a sheaf of grain, with nuts and seeds, to
a pole that is put in a garden for birds. Many peasants will wait until after
the birds have eaten before having their Christmas Dinner. And Santa Claus is
expected to visit homes in person with his Christmas elves to give out Christmas
gifts.
Christmas in France is called Noel, from the phrase 'les bonnes nouvelles,' or
'the good news,' which refers to the gospel. On Christmas Eve, cathedrals and
churches are beautifully lit and filled with the sounds of Christmas carols,
ringing church bells and carillons. The tradition among children is to put their
shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel or le petit Jesus to fill them with gifts.
In the north of France however, children receive gifts on Dec. 6, St. Nicholas
Day, instead of Christmas. Most French homes will have a Nativity scene or
crèche on display during the season. In Southern France, some people will burn a
log in their home from Christmas Eve until New Years Day, which comes out of a
farming tradition of using the log for good luck in the coming harvest. The
French also make a traditional cake called the buche de Noel, or Christmas Log,
which is shaped like a Yule log and is part of a late supper called le reveillon
held after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The main dish for this meal generally
consists of poultry, ham, salads, cake, fruit and wine but varies according to
region. The main course in Burgundy is turkey with chestnuts and in Paris it's
oysters, foie gras and the buche de Noel cake. The wines generally served are
Champagne, Muscadet,
Sauterne and Anjou. An annual tradition of puppet shows,
particularly in Paris and Lyons, is popular during Christmas time. In Paris,
it's also popular for big department stores to have grand, animated window
displays.
Christmas in Italy is called 'Il Natale,' or 'the birthday.' Christmas season
starts eight days before Christmas, a period called the Novena, and runs for
three weeks. During the Novena, children dress as shepherds and go from house to
house saying Christmas poems, singing and playing pipes. They often receive
money to buy gifts during this activity. The Nativity scene, called the
Presepio, has miniature figures, carved in great detail out of clay or plaster,
of the Holy Family in the stable and is the center of Christmas for families.
Families say prayers and children recite poems around the Presepio. Christmas
Eve dinner, called cenone, is a traditional dish of roasted, baked or fried eel.
In some regions, various types of fish is prepared for this dinner, as well as
pork, sausage in a pig's leg or turkey stuffed with chestnuts. Christmas sweets
are called panettone and traditionally have nuts and almonds. On Christmas Eve,
children set out their shoes for a kind, old woman or ugly witch called La
Befana, who rides on a broomstick down chimneys, to fill them with gifts of toys
or candies. If they were bad, their shoes will be filled with coal. Some
children wait until Jan. 6, the Epiphany, to receive gifts.
Norway is where the tradition of the Yule log started and which gave rise to
log-shaped cakes, cheese and other desserts during the holidays. Norwegians
today often go into the forest to cut their own Christmas trees, which is
secretly decorated on Christmas Eve to surprise children. After the Christmas
tree is revealed, Norwegians engage in 'circling the Christmas tree,' a
tradition in which everyone joins hands forming a ring around the tree. They
then walk around the Christmas tree singing carols. Gifts are distributed after
this ritual is finished.
Terms of Use for this Private Label Article
Possibly Related PLR Articles:
Italy Ski Vacations
If you will be in Italy, you should definitely visit
Limone. Limone is one of Italy's oldest ski areas,
and it is a very old village with a twelfth century
church and many other old buildings. The town is
located near the French border,...read more
Diesel Passenger Vehicles
Both diesel cars and light trucks are receiving a
lot of attention in the United States as a near
term strategy to achieve fuel economy and climate
change goals.
The renewed interest in diesel as of late stems
from its potential to...read more
Buy a car at the end of your lease
You've come to the end of your lease and you like you car enough you want
to keep it in the driveway. Just like buying a used car, there is some
research to be done to nail a good deal.
First, you need to know the cost of buying out your...read more
Ten Ways to Master the Art of Playing Paintball
Since the paintball game was discovered, many enthusiasts have found that this game is a stress reliever and some have even made a career out of it. But funds are usually short for average players and this keeps them from taking their skill to the...read more
Getting to the Hoop Effectively with Passing Skills
Playing a good game of basketball isn't necessarily something that you can do by yourself. Instead, you will need to have a good amount of teamwork going on in order to get to the goal of winning. One of the most important parts of keeping the...read more
Dental Assistant Training
Pursing a career as a Dental Assistant can be very exciting. With so many employment opportunities to choose from, it is an excellent choice for those who are interested in working in the dental field, enjoy working with people, and enjoy some...read more
Creating a Layout for a Snowboard-themed Myspace Webpage
We have gone a long way in terms of developing things and activities which we can use and enjoy. Snowboarding and Myspace are two examples of such innovations.
Why would a snowboard enthusiast want to have a Myspace account? For those who are...read more
Installing New Bathroom Faucets
Would you like to save money, make your bathroom look better, and be able to take pride in the fact that you did it yourself? Decided to start a home improvement project can be a little freighting but with the right tools and information, you will...read more
WHAT'S IN A GOLF BALL?
In the chemistry of air pressure, turbulence, and aerodynamics, surface structures are vital physical element. History has it that there are things that seem to be peculiar on their make-up hundreds of years ago which eventually came up with a...read more
How to Watch a Formula D Racing Event
Formula D Racing; if you are a race fan, there is a good chance that you have heard of it before. Although Formula D is considered to be racing, there is a lot more than racing that is involved. In fact, drifting is important; thus, the alternative...read more